1st of May 2001
International Workers Day
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Message from the Executive Committee of the Marxist Workers School
to the South African Working Class and all it's Organisations
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Comrades, today we celebrate the 1st of May. The International Workers Day is
celebrated worldwide. It is the day to remember men and women of the
revolutionary working class, who have sacrificed their lives in the struggle
against capitalism, to end exploitation, oppression and poverty.
Their struggle lives on in the hearts and minds of millions of working class
people in the world and is continuing in the day-to-day struggle of our
people.
60 million young people world wide between 15 and 24 years of age are
struggling world wide to find work. In South Africa this year we have about
350 000 young people leaving school and looking for jobs, the majority will
be seeking without any success. Youth unemployment is expected to rise to
60%, even up to 70% in the near future. It is one of the biggest crises our
country is facing. The Bosses are pressing for privatisation of our state
assets and to reduce government's responsibility for our people. Therefore we
say: Unemployment, poverty and exploitation can never be solved under
capitalism! South Africa needs a socialist education and health system under
the control of the working class!
The contradictions between the two main classes in our society, the
bourgeoisie and the working class, are sharpening by the day. South Africa is
- next to Brazil - second in the whole world of having the biggest gap
between rich and poor. It is time that our working class organizations, our
workers in the streets, at demonstrations and at strikes raise the property
question in all areas of our struggle.
International pharmaceutical companies have been exposed that they don't care
about people dying of Aids without having access to medication. Under
capitalism profits are put above human life. We need a health service in
South Africa, which is based on the same principles and human value system as
the people experience in Cuba. We will only be able to achieve such basic
human conditions through the mass mobilisation of the working class in our
country. The working class and its organisations have to lead the struggle in
the transition! The working class and its organisations have to lead the
country into a socialist future!
Comrades, to on the 1st of May we extend our solidarity to our brothers and
sisters around the world:
- to the Palestinian People and their just struggle for national liberation
and for their own state with Jerusalem as their capital.
- to the Columbian People under the leadership of FALK who have liberated
more than half of their country. Their struggle is the pride and hope of
millions of oppressed people in Latin America.
- to the People in Cuba under the leadership of the great Revolutionary Fidel
Castro and the Communist Party of Cuba, who successfully withstood 40 years
of barbaric blockade and military intimidation by US Imperialism.
- To the People of the Democratic Republic of Congo who are defending their
country against the military invasion of Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. The
invasion is organised and financed by the former Belgium colonial master and
US Imperialism.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the other Socialist countries in
Europe (end of the 80's beginning of the 90's) we have seen a growing
aggressiveness of Imperialism. The barbaric bombardment of Iraq and the
destruction of the former Yugoslavia including the cruel and ruthless
bombardment of Serbia. The latest developments are signs of worse things to
come. Only a strong and principled alliance of all anti-imperialist forces
can defeat imperialism.
The struggle of workers in every country and the struggle of the oppressed
people are also our struggles! Long live Proletarian Internationalism!
Down with Imperialism! Forward to Socialism!
JOIN THE MARXIST WORKERS SCHOOL
Contact us to find out where you can join the nearest Marxist Workers School
in your area
Remember Lenin: '(that) there can be no Revolutionary Practice without
Revolutionary Theory'
Contact Telephone of the Marxist Workers School
Matshe Mathabathe: 083 208 7069
Comrades, the Marxist Workers School is free. All progressive people who are
interested in the teachings of Marx, Engels and Lenin are welcome
1st of May 2001b.doc
